Chapter 63: CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE.

​Lunch was absolutely perfect. Julian ate until he couldn't eat another bite. Brianna was in seventh heaven. She grinned throughout. Yolanda was happy her daughter and her man enjoyed the meal. She prayed that if what was happening was a dream, she should stay asleep forever.

After the meal, Brianna and Julian insisted on cleaning up. Then they all went to sit in the family area where there was a huge organ, a guitar, trumpet, and some other musical instruments.

​"It's still here." Brianna breathed as she stared at the guitar which had her name on it. It had been a birthday present from her parents.

​"Your guitar?" Yolanda chuckled. "Of course it's still here. Where did you expect it to be? Sorry we never got around to getting someone to teach you."

​"Wendell taught me," Brianna said without a thought as she picked up the guitar.

​Julian didn't miss how Yolanda stiffened at the mention of Wendell's name. He also watched quietly as Brianna grabbed a tissue and began to clean the guitar which was the exact replica of the one he'd seen in her bedroom.

​"Julian?" Brianna turned to face Julian with a sad smile. "Will you help me play something?" She thrust the guitar at Julian.

​Julian was stunned for a moment at the request. But he recovered quickly and reached out to take the guitar from Brianna. "Sure." The fact that Brianna was even willing to allow him to play that particular guitar was a good sign, Julian thought. "What do you want us to play?"

​"My mother's favorite song." Brianna went to sit behind the organ and pushed up the cover. "Ever heard, 'Thanks, I Give You Thanks'?"

​"One moment." Julian took out his cell phone and did a quick check as Brianna got ready.

​"Ma, you can't sing if you're crying," Brianna chided Yolanda who was wiping at her eyes. "I'll give you the cue, baby." She gave Julian a slow wink and laughed when Julian actually blushed.

​Brianna began to play the organ, followed by the sweet strumming of strings by Julian. But when Yolanda Jackson began to sing, goose bumps broke out all over Julian. It was the most beautiful voice Julian had ever heard. And the tears never stopped sliding down her cheeks as she sang her heart out;

​Thanks, thanks I give you thanks

For all you've done

I am so blessed my soul is at rest

Oh lord I give you thanks

For all you have done in our lives

We are do blessed

Our souls has found rest

Praise God

We give you thanks.

​When the song ended, Brianna went to hug her mum tightly. "I love you, Ma." Brianna said shakily. "I never stopped."

​"Thank you, daughter. I love you more than you'll ever know," she choked. "You don't know how hard I've prayed. All I do is ask for forgiveness and pray for your return. And after eleven years, my prayer has finally been answered."

​Julian stood and left the room to give mother and daughter some privacy to talk. He was so happy at how their visit had turned out. Both Brianna and Yolanda needed what had happened that day, to heal. It was obvious that Yolanda loved and cared about her daughter.

It was also obvious that just like her daughter, she had a streak of submission within which Brianna's father had exploited. She'd clearly not been the kind of person who could stand up to another... especially her tyrant of a husband. And that had almost cost her, her only child. At least their story was going to end on a happy note and Julian was happy for them.

​Back in the family area, Brianna took her mother's hands in hers and locked gazes with her. "I need you to do something for me, Ma."

​"Anything, baby," Yolanda said softly.

​"I want to take you back to LA with me. You don't look well. I want Julian to give you a thorough medical check-up. He's a doctor and has offered to do that for you. Will you come with us?"

​"I'll be fine, Brianna. Don't worry about me. Seeing you is all that I wanted. Even if I die tonight, I'll die a happy woman."

​"Yeah, but you'll leave me a very miserable daughter." Brianna smiled. "I will be very happy if you do this for me. And the house needs some work. So whilst you're in LA with me, that work will be done." She saw the look of regret on her mother's face and assumed she was probably thinking about the cost. "I'll pay for everything."

​"Oh, it's not about the money. There's a lot of that. Your father amassed a lot of wealth. When he died, I transferred the ownership of everything to your name. Everything is yours. Including this house. I had faith that you would be back one day. You can choose not to work again and live well for the rest of your life. I'm just sorry I haven't done any work on the house as I should have. I agree it needs a lot of work." She trailed off.

​"I also have good memories," Brianna countered.

​"I don't," Yolanda confessed. "I've hated this house since the day you left. I only stayed on here to punish myself and to also wait for you."

​"Oh, we're so selling the house," Brianna drawled, making her mother burst into laughter.

​"Good." She grinned.

​"I'll get you a real nice house before you come back from LA." Brianna leaned in and kissed her mother on both cheeks.

​"Just call the lawyer, Saul Miller. I'll give you his number. He will take care of whatever you want and get things started. So... you got yourself a doctor," she whispered, making Brianna burst into surprised laughter.

​"Yes, I did," Brianna chuckled. "And he's a very good man who I love to bits."

​"I can see that." Yolanda grinned. "And the feeling is clearly mutual. I'm so, so happy for you. Now, about this trip to LA. If that's what you want, then I'll do it."

​"Thank you, Ma."

​"But we need to plan. This is going to take some time since arrangements such as booking of flights etcetera..."

​"That's no problem at all. We will travel on Julian's private jet so..."

​"Oooh... A rich medical doctor who plays a musical instrument. Jackpot!" Yolanda grinned, making Brianna laugh again.

​"Ma, come on. So how are we going to do this? Now that we've both agreed to sell this house, I suggest you start packing what you need."

​"I can do that this evening." Yolanda nodded. "But I need to give you something first."

​"What is it?"

​"I'll be right back." Yolanda stood up and headed up the stairs. When she came back she had a sealed letter in her hands. "Here. It's from your father."